Because a residential college seeks to create an environment in which students and faculty benefit from the exchange of insights, ideas, and experiences, a residence requirement provides adequate time for such an exchange for the student's development both inside and outside the classroom. Contemplative study, maturation, and time for reading and discussion in the college community all are considered important to a student's development.

All students are expected to complete eight full-time college semesters, a specified number of which must be in residence at Grinnell. Students who enter Grinnell after June 2002 as first-semester first-year students or who transfer to Grinnell as second-semester first-year students are required to complete at least six semesters of full-time enrollment in residence at Grinnell. One semester of approved off-campus study may count toward the six-semester residency requirement. Transfer students who enter as first-semester second-year students, as second-semester second-year students, or as third-year students must complete at least four semesters of full-time residence at Grinnell. Full-time enrollment is enrollment for at least 12 semester credits. The only off-campus programs that can be counted toward residency for second-year and third-year transfer students are those operated by Grinnell College (currently Grinnell-in-London and Grinnell-in-Washington, D.C.).

If an eighth-semester student in good standing leaves the College with eight or fewer nonmajor credits to complete toward the degree, these credits may be completed at another accredited college or university, as long as the minimum residency credit requirement has been met and prior approval has been granted by the student's adviser and the registrar. Degrees are not conferred beyond three years after the date a student leaves Grinnell.